I bought a book called "Bud and Me" at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City last week. It was written by Buds' wife, Alta. Can't recall the last name, now. My spouse read it, too. We aren't totally convinced it is the factual story it claims to be, but there is some evidence such as copies of news stories, photo's and such that make me an almost strong believer. It is just so improbable by todays' standards that it is hard to believe.
Story line is that two young boys, ages 5 and 9 persuade their father to let them ride horseback from sw OK to Sante Fe to see the new capitol building about 1905. They also spent some time with the governor, with whom their father was acquainted and had many adventures. One was stumbling upon a group of 'cowboys', working a herd. Later, it was learned they men were rustling the cattle, yet they followed the boys through some 'inhospitable' territory to assure no one harmed the boys, because they knew and respected the father who was a sherrif with whom they, or some of them, had been in a shoot-out.
Other exploits included riding to Washington DC and visiting the President, among other things, then personally driving home a Brush car their father purchased for them. Also made a motorcycle trip. Later a cross country trip riding from the east coast to the west coast at ages 9 and 13 which was their last such escapade.
It was fun and fast reading. There were five children in the family and the mother had died. The children were 'looked after' by various family members, and were fairly well off, with the father being friends of some of the large TX Panhandle ranchers and hunting wolves with Teddy Roosevelt on one of those ranches. He also did some movie making 'back east', some featuring the boys as hard riding young cowboys who helped rescue damsels in distress.
Left the book with my daughter for her family to read, so can't check the surname of the boys and the author.
mrj
